ls without telling a direct falsehood that they sighed when
the claim-jumpers backed their horses and withdrew to confer anxiously
on what they had heard. But Sam Brewster interpolated with:

"If it is curiosity that brought you-all to lose a night's rest, pass
right along and tell the Sheriff and Bill your yarn. They will not only
let you take a squint at what you think is a mine, but they will pay you
to remain and help arrest all the claim-jumpers who are already on the
way."

Even as he spoke, Mr. Brewster saw the sly move of Hank as he tried to
pull his gun from the holster; instantly a hand came from the rancher's
pocket and brought to light a cocked revolver. The other man suddenly
changed his mind when the bore of Brewster's gun was leveled so that the
clerk could look right down into his grave if he made the slightest
mistake in this outing of his.

But the miner became ugly; then he saw the other hand of Sam Brewster
come from his pocket and he knew that he was a dead rascal too, if he
made one false step. So his expression changed to a wily smile, and he
said:

"What you-all ha'r fur ef th' Sheriff's up thar guardin' th' precious
mine?"

"Told to warn away any foolish town-clerks who might be heading straight
to Kingdom Come! You know Bill likes to give every chump a loop-hole to
save himself, if possible," retorted Mr. Brewster.

"We ain't lookin' fer no argyment with Bill ner the Shuriff, so
we-all'll mosey back an' tell others we meet. Howsomever, you-all won't
find it so easy to git rid of curious folks when that miner-gang gits
ha'r. Ah happen to know who and how many are plannin' to come."

With that farewell, Hank turned his horse's head and led the way down
the trail, slowly followed by the unwilling miner.

"Oh, Mr. Brewster! hadn't we better ride after Mike and the girls before
the miners' gang gets here?" cried Barbara, fearfully.

Mr. Brewster laughed. "That was only a bluff of Hank's to make me ride
along so he and his pal might follow us. I haven't the least doubt but
that both of those cowardly rascals are hiding just out of sight where
they can watch my every movement. Should we start to ride along towards
the cave, they would follow and shoot us from the rear as sure as
anything."

In spite of his making light of Hank, however, Mr. Brewster kept a wary
eye open for an ambuscade. Nothing of moment happened, however, and Jeb
was just saying: "Maybe we-all had best ride for the cave,